Switch



E. N. JACOBI May 16, 1933.

SWITCH Filed'July l0 1930 4 Sheets-Shea?l l N mx May 16, 1933. E, N.JACOB! 1,909,585

SWITCH Filed July lO, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 7M/ifi /M Jimi] www E, N,JACOBl May 16, 1933..

SWITCH Filed July 10, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 16, 1933. E. N1, com1,909,585

SWITCH Filed July l0, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 UMA? sigg) Patented May 16,1933 uN-.Iran STATES "PATENT OFFICE N.. JACOBI, F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN,ASSIGNOR TO IBRIGGS 6c STRATON= CORPORATION, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ACORPORATION 0F DELAWARE SWITCH Application led July 10, 1930. Serial No.467,030.

* "This invention relates .to certain new and useful improvements inswitches, and refers more particularly to a switch adapted for use as alighting switch .for automotive vehicles, and has as one of its objectsto provide 'smoother action for switches of this type and to facilitateaction of the movable unit 4:to -any of 'its several positions.

Heretofore lighting switches for automotive vehicles usually have beenof the rotary type, lthe construction of which involves difficulties ofmanufacture and requires a rela- -tiv'ely"complicated design. Thepresent invention entirely overcomes these objectionablefeatures byproviding afswitch wherein vthe movable unit is lonigtudinally movable,

as contrasted to the rotary motion of exist- A'ing switches.

Another object of this invention, therefore, resides in the provision ofa switch of the'character described, the movable unit of which `isactuated by a member mounted for 'longitudinal movement` and whereinsaid- 'member is connected with the movable 'switch unit in a mannerfacilitating installa- `vtionnoi" the switches.

more specific object of this invention resides 1n the provlslon of novelmeans for connecting the actuating stem or rod with the t lafndmoreparticularly defined by the appended' claims, it being understood thatsuch changes "in, the precise embodiment of the hereindi'sclosedinvention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

Y 1 In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated several completeexamples of the physical embodiment of my invention constructedaccording to the best modes I have so farfdevised for the practicalapplication of -.the lprincjplesthereof, and in which:

"2.Fig`11re 1 is a .transverse sectional view through a switch structureembodying my invention; i

Figure 2 is a bottom View of the switch with portions broken away ,andin section to illustrate structural details;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a typicalarrangement of switch terminals; v

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken through Figure 1 on the planeof the line 4 4; Y

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken through Figure 1 on the planeof the line 5 5; i

Figure 6 is a perspective detail view of the movable switch unit driverand the elements for connecting the same with the actuating rod, said,lementsv being shown separated and arrangfgefr in their proper order ofassembly;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view similar to Figure 1 illustratinga slightly modified form of my invention;

Figure 8 is a bottom view with parts broken away, of the structure shownin Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a crosssectional -view taken through Figure 7 on the planeof the line Figure 10 is a perspective view similar to Figure 6 andillustrating the movable switch unit driver of the structure shown inFigure 7 and its associated mechanism forconnecting l the same with theactuating rod;

Figure 11 is a bottom view of another modification of this invention;

Figure 12 is a transverse sectional vie1 taken'on the plane of the line12-12 of Figure 11; and

Figure 13 is a cross sectional view taken through Figure 12 on the planeof` the line 13-13.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, in whichlike numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, thenumeral 5 represents the dash board or other portion of anautomotiveve-l hicle to which a bracket 6 is adapted to be secured by abushing 7 passed through aligned openings in the dash board and the headof the bracket and having a nut 8 threaded on its inner end to clamp thehead of thebracket y securely to the inner face of the dash board.

The bracket extends rearwardly from the dash board 5 and has a switchcasing 9 secured thereto by rivets or'the like. The switch casing 9 isreferably stamped from bendable metal and) is rectangular in shape withits open' lower` side close by a terminal head 11 formed of inner andouter layers of insulating material 12 and 13 respectively. The terminalhead 11 is secured in position closin the casing by a plurality of tangs14 exten ed from the mar inal edges of the cas,- ing and clinched over te outersurface of the terminal head.

Mounted on the terminal head is a plurality of contacts 15 which may bearranged l in any desired relationship, and in the resent instance areformed by the heads of rivets which pass through openings in theterminal head and secure terminals 16 thereto. A tlylpical arrangementof the terminals and t eir respective switch contacts is illustrated inFigure 3 and it is noted that the endmost terminals are provided withfuse clips 17 adapted to receive a conventional fuse F, which as iscustomary, is included in the lighting4 circuit of the vehicle. Thespecific construction and arrangement of the terminals of the'terminalhead does not form part of the present invention and further descriptionthereof is therefore unnecessary.

However, it will be noted that the stationary contacts '15 are arrangedin two sets of three to lbe selectively engaged by the contacts 18 of aspider-like contactor 1'9 forming part of the movable switch unitindicated generally by the numeral 20, and which is longitudinallyslidably mounted in the casing.

The two sets of stationary contacts are so located on the terminal head,that when the movable switch unit is in its innermost position -asillustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the movable contactor 19 will be in'itsoli position disengaged from the stationary contacts, and when movedtoan intermediate position the contactor will electrically connect thethree stationary contacts comprising the intermediate posltion of theswltch to arrange the circuits to connect the arkin and tail light ofthe vehicle wit the attery terminal, (see Figure 3) and when in itsoutermost position will connect the' tail light and head 1i hts with thebattery terminal through the, se F. The two on positions of the movableswitch unit are indicated the heads of the contacts 15 with by formincup-shaped depressions so that as the contacts of the movable contactoralign therewith they snap into osition and the off position is indlcatedy similar depressions formed in the inner layer 12 of the terminal head.

Hence it is seen that none of the three positions are favored and thatthe movable unit may be actuated to al1 positions with equal facility.

The movable switch unit comprises beside the contactor 19, a driver 21of skeletonized construction, preferably stamped from bendable metal andhaving a plurality of arms 22 directed laterally from its central base23. The arms y22 are substantiall T sha ed 'at their outer ends to bereceive in note es or recesses 24 formed in edge portions of aninsulating panel 25 to which the contactor 19 is secured by a rivet 26.Y.

The connection between the arms of the driver 21 and the insulating anel25 permits movement of the panel an consequently the contactor carriedthereby, toward and away from the terminal head, and an expansive spring27 confined between the base 23 of the driver and the panel 25 at alltimes yieldably urges the panel and the contactor toward the terminalhead the T shaped portion of the o uter ends of the arms 22 preventingdisassembly of the contactor and its carr ing anel from the driver whenthe terminal ead 1s removed from the switch casin As there are threearms 22, engagement o the contactor carrying panel with the driver maybe effected by merely springing one of the arms outwardly suiciently farto permit its engagement in its respective notch 24 as will be readilyapparent.

The lon 'tudinal movement of the movable switch unit driver 2 1 in thecasing to'carry the contactor 19 to and from its several osxtions isguided by an inwardly presse Arib 28 formed inthe to of the casing whichis received in a comp ementary depression 29 formed in th base 23 ofthe' driver, and movement may be imparted to the driver by means of alongitudinally movable actuating rod 30.

The actuatin rod or stem 30 extends from the outside o the dashboard 5through ali ned openings 31 formed in the bushing 7 and an opening 32formed on the adjacent end of the casing, and has its inner endyconnected with the movable switch unit driver in a manner to be laterdescribed. The o ening 32 in the bushing thus assists in guidlng the dle33 non-rotatably secured thereto in any desired manner, as by having theouter irregularly shaped end 34 of the rod received 1n a.correspondingly shaped opening in the knob and its inner end swedgedover to lie in a channel 35 formed atthe juncture of the irregularlyshaped end 34 and the major portion of the rod.

The manner of attaching the inner end of the actuating rod or stem withthe driver greatly facilitates the installation of the switch in anautomotive vehicle, as it requires merely the insertion of the rod orstem into 'the switch casing and the engagement of its threaded innerend 36 in a nut member 37 carried by the driver.

'lhe nut member is maintained assembled with the driver 21 by asubstantially U shaped retaining member 38 secured Aat its ends 39 tothe opposite sides .of a wall 40 formed on the driver 2l, by means oftangs 41 clinched over the edges of the wall 40. 'lhe closed end 42 ofthe U shaped retaining member 38 has an opening 43 to freely rotatablyreceive the rod or stem 30, and the nut member 37 is positioned betweenthe wall of the driver and the closed end 42 of the retaining member,being held against displacement and yieldably urged toward the wall 40,by an expansivespring 44 confined between it and the closed end of theretaining member.

Diametrically opposite notches 45 formed in the nut member 37 cooperatewith detents y 46 formed on the wall .40 to hold the nut member againstturning in one direction during application of the rod or stem with thenut member while' permitting rotation in an opposite direction toprevent accidental detachment. The detents may be formed by strikingoutwardly in opposite directions portions of the wall, so that theabrupt ends of the detents enter the-recesses 45 and restrain the nutmember against rotation upon threaded engagement of the actuating rod orstem with the nut member, the wall 40 preferably having an opening 47 toreceive the eX- treme inner end 48 of the actuating rod or stem which ispreferably pointed to form a guide to vfacilitate the engagement of itsthreaded portion with the nut member 37.

The U shapedretaining member 38 also has an arcuate lower wall 49 strucktrom the lower edge of its closed end 42 ot the retaining member, tocooperate with the wall 40, the closed end 42, and the top of thecasing, to form a substantially closed box to prevent the possibility ofthe nut member being displaced. y

From the preceding description it will be obvious that attachment of theactuating rod or stem with the movable switch unit is a sim le matterand re uires merel the threading of the end of the rod in the nutmember. This may be accomplished with the movable switch unit in any ofits normal positions, as the ratchet action afforded by the detents 4Gand the notches or recesses 45 ot the nut `member hold the nut memberagainst rotation and permit the threaded engagement of the actuatingstem therewith.

Accidental unscrewing ot the actuating member from the nut member isprecluded by the fact that the relatively flat inclination of thedetents 46 provides insuliicient friction to hold the nut memberstationary upon retrograde movement of the actuating rod or stem.

It however, it is desired to remove the actuating rod or stem, this maybe accomplished by drawing the rod outwardly beyond its outermost normalposition as indicated in dotted lines in Figure l. With the rod thusdrawn outwardly a projection 50 in I the form of an inwardly pressedportion of the casing enters one of the notches or recesses 45 of themit member, providing it has been turned to alignment therewith, andthus secures the same against rotation facilitating disengagement of thestem or actuating rod therefrom.

It will be noted that to engage one of the notches or recesses 45 withthe projection 50 it is necessary to apply tension to the rod or stemsuicient to compress the spring 44, hence it is obvious that undernormal conditions, that is, during normal operation of the switch, thenut member will not be moved outwardly sufiiciently far to permit theengagement of its notches with the projection 50.

ln Figures 7 to l0 inclusive, a slightly modified form of this inventionis illustrated, and in this structure, the switch casing is mounted asin the embodiment shown in Figures l to 6 inclusive, but the movableswitch unit is of varied construction to accommodate two independentcircuits. In this instance, the driver 5l of the movable switch unit issubstantially of rectangular shape having its ends 52 and 53 directedlaterally from its closed base 54 and having a mounting panel ofinsulating material 55 secured to the end walls 52 and 53 by struck overtangs or lugs 56..

rllhe driver 52 together with its panel ot insulating material thusforms substantially a closed-boX-like structure, and the panel 52 isprovided with two irregularly shaped openings 56 and 57 in whichcontactors 58 and 59 are respectively mounted. The contactors conform tothe shape of their respective openings and have downwardly extending cupshaped depressions forming contacts 60 which cooperate with thestationary contacts of the terminal head to perform the desiredfunctions of the switch as the movable switch unit is moved in thecasing.

Expansive springs 6l and 62 are confined between the contactors 58 and59 respectively and a strip ot insulating material 63 mounted in thebase ot the movable switch unit driver 5l to provide contact pressure,and the springs are maintained in proper relation by upwardly extendingtits formed on the con tactors and by engaging their upper ends insuitable recesses formed in the insulating material 63.

lt is noted that this manner of mounting the contactors leaves them freeto accommodate any misalignment of the terminal head and to adjustthemselves so as to obtain intimate Contact with the stationarycontacts, and to assure a positive driving connection between the driverpanel 55 and the contactors, the contactors 58 and 59 are provided withupwardly extending peripheral flanges 58 and 59 respectively.

ln this modification, the rib for guiding ins Iso

Iward the enlarged flange 65 of t ber. The flange 65 of the nut memberhas the longitudinal movement of the movable switch unit driver iseliminated by extending the panel 55 to substantially the inner sides ofthe casing; and the manner of readily removably connecting the actuatingrod or stem 30 with the driver comprises a nut member 64 preferablystamped of bendable metal and best illustrated in Figure 10, having anouter flange 65 and an inner substantially spool shaped portion 66. YThe spool shaped portion 66 of the nut member is engageable-in a recess67 formed in the forward wall 53 of the driver 51 where it is heldagainst detachment by a leaf spring member 68.

The leaf spring member 68 has a central opening 69 of a size to permitthe passage of the spool shaped inner end of the nut membertherethrough, and the outer ends of its oppositely directed arms 69 cutaway as at 70 to engage over the adjacent tangs 56 of the ldriver andprevent detachment of the spring member and the nut member from theforward wall 53 of the driver.

The spring member 68 is also bowed to project its inner portionoutwardly of the.

wall 53 and has detents 71 projected outwardliv therefrom adjacent itsopening 69 which,

e to the inherent resiliency of the spring member, are normallyyieldablyl7 urged toe nut mem'- transverse recesses 7 2 formed therein,which like the recesses or notches 45 4of the embodiment illustrated inFigures 1 to 6 inclusive, are adapted to receive the detents 71 andrestrain rotation-of the nut member in a clockwise direction toaccommodate attachment of the rod or stem with the nut member whilepermitting counter-clockwise rotation thereof to revent accidentaldisengagement of the ro The nut member 64 ordinarily will be left in anangular position at right angles to that shown in Figure 9, with the twonotches 77 engaged with the detents 71; since the detents will fall intothe notches and come to rest there when the knob and stem are installed.This places the notches 77 out of registry with a tig orlug -7 3projecting from the bracket 6 through an opening 74 in the casing 9 andprojecting into the path of the flange of theP nut 65. Furthermore, whenthe movable switch unit isiin its farthest normal switching positiontoward the dash board 5, the detent action of the ball shaped contactpoints of the contactors 58 and 59 in the stationary contactdepressions, brings the movable switch unit to rest with the flangeofthe nut 65, in a plane spaced from the lug 73.

To remove the knob and stem it is necessary to pull the knob so that themovable switchv unit overcomes its detent-action and passes beyond itsextreme normal contact making position toward the dash board, and

to turn the knob until eithernotch 77 emthen be unscrewed from the nut65 as the latter is held from turning by the lug 73.

Figures 11, 12, and 13 illustrate another l sli ghtly modified manner ofpreventing accidental detachment of the actuating rod or stem from themovable switch unit, and in this construction a U-shaped stra member 75is secured to the forward wall o the movable switch unit driver, theclosed end of the strap member being provided with an internallythreaded opening 76 in which the threaded portion of the actuating rodor stem is engageable.

The'bracket 6in this construction is wider than that of the precedingstructures and has a spring member 77 secured thereto to yieldablyengageits free end, which is directed laterally as at 78, in a longitudinalchannel 79 formed in the actuating rod and also in a recess 80 formed ina bushing 8l struck up from the casing front wall.

T he actuating rod or stem is thus normally restrained against rotationin either direction and when it is desired to disengage the stem fromthe movable switch unit it is merely necessary tohold the free end ofthe spring 77 'out of engagement with the actuating rod whereuponrotation thereof will be permitted.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art towhich an invention of the character described appertains, that I providea novel construction for li hting switches of automotive vehicles and te like, which is of simplified construction requiring no compli- -berwith the switch unit comprising a nut member carried by the switch unitand with which the actuating member is threadedly enga ed, ratchet meansfor holding the nut mem er against rotation in one direction tofacilitate threaded engagement of the actuating member with the nutmember while permitting movement of the nut member in the oppositedirection to prevent accidental detachment of the actuating member fromthe nut member, yieldable means forv maintaining the nut member inactive engagement with the ratchet means, and means for holding the nutmember 'against movement in said last mentioned direction to enableintentional detachment of the actuating member there` from, said meansrequiring movement of the actuating member and the switch unit to apredetermined position.

abl carried by the switch instrumentalities to e at all times within thecasing, means to restrain rotation of the nut member in one direction toenable threading-of the inner end of the stem into said nut member, saidrestraining means permitting rotation of the nut member in the oppositedirection whereby detachment of the stem from the nut member byretrograd rotation of the stem is normally precluded, and means withinthe casing and beyond the normal limits of movement of the nut memberwith the switch instrumentalities to engage the nut member and restrainthe same against rotation in said opposite direction so as to enable thestem to be detached from the nut member.

3. In a switch of the character described, an enclosing casing, switchinstrumentalities within the casing, and having a predetermined normalrectilinear movement therein for the performance of definite switchingfunctions. an actuating stem slidable in an opening in one wall of theenclosing casing to be movable longitudinally in the direction of therectilinear movement of the switch in- Jstrumentalities, means on saidswitch instrumentalities and the inner end of the actuating stemproviding a threaded connection for attaching the stem to the switchinstrumentalities, said means being so arranged as to enable the makingof said threaded connec-l tion with the switch instrumentalities withintheir normal limits of movement, and means within the enclosing casingand operable upon movement of the switch instrumentalities beyond one oftheir normal limits of movement to cooperate with one of the meansadording the threaded connection to enable detachment of the stem fromthe switch instrumentalities.

4. In a switch device of the character described, an elongated casing,switch instrumentalities having rectilinear motion along thelongitudinal axis of the casing between predetermined limits in theperformance of definite switching functions, an actuating stem slidablein an end wall of the casing, means to detachably connect-the inner endof the actuating stem with the switch instrumentalities comprising, anut member rotatably carried by the switch instrumentalities and adaptedto have the inner end of the stem threaded therein, ratchet meansbetween the switch instrumentalities and the nut to restrain rotation ofthe nut in a direction permitting the engagement of the stem therewithbut permitting rotation ofl the nut in the opposite direction so as topreclude accidental detachment of the stem therefrom, and means withinthe casing and engageable with thie nut upon movementl of the -switchinstrumentalities and the nut beyond one of said normal limits ofmovement to hold the .nut against rotation in said opposite directionand enable unthreading. of the stem therefrom.

5. In a switch of the character described, a flat terminal head having aplurality of stationary contacts mounted in a predeterminedrelationship, a movable contactor of `a shape bearing a definiterelationship tothe arrangement of the'stationary contacts, a guiding andpropelling member with which the movable contactor is connected to bemoved thereby with a rectilinear motion across the terminal head intoselective engagement with the contacts, an actuating stem for theguiding and propelling member mounted for longitudinal motion in linewith the rectilinear movement of the movable contactor, and means toconnect the actuating stem with the guiding and propelling membercomprising a nut member rotatably carried by the guiding and propellingmemu ber and with which the ,inner end of the actuating stem is adaptedto be threadediy engaged, and ratchet means to hold the nut memberagainst rotation in one direction only, whereby threaded engagement ofthe stem with the nut member is permitted but accidental detachmenttherefrom is preeluded.

6. In a switch of the character described, including movable switchinstrumentalities, and an actuating stem slidable along the axis ofmovement of the movable switch instrumentalities, means to detachablyconnect the actuating stem with the switch instrumentalities comprisinga nut retaining member connected with the switch instrumentalities andforming therewith a pocket in which the nut member is rotatablyconfined, ratchet means to restrain rotation of the nut member in onedirection, spring means cooperating with one Wall of said pocket tomaintain the nut member inoperative relationship to the ratchet means,and a threaded portion on the actuating stem adapted to be threaded intothe nut member,rsaid ratchet means holding the nut member againstrotation during engagement of the threaded actuating stem portiontherewith but permitting rotation of thenut member in an oppositedirection to preclude accidental detachment of the actuating stemtherefrom.

7. In a switch of the character described, movable switchinstrumentalities, a propelling and guiding member for the movableswitch instrumentalities, an actuating stem for the propelling andguiding member, and means to connect the actuating stem with thepropelling and guiding member, comprising a nut member engaged with onewall of said propelling and guiding member in line with the actuatingstem and adapted to threadedly receive the inner end of the stem,ratchet means to hold the nut member against rotation in one directionto enable the threaded engagement of the actuating stem therewith butpermitting rotation of the nut member in the opposite direction so as topreclude accidental detachment of the stem, and common spring means formaintaining the nut member engaged with said Wall of the propelling andguiding member and for maintaining said ratchet means in operativeassociation with the nut member.

8. In a switch of the character described, a fiat terminal head having aplurality of stationary contacts mounted thereon in a predetermineddefinite relationship, a movable contactor of a shape bearing a definiterelationship to the arrangement of the station- -ary contacts on theterminal head, a propelling and guiding member for said movablecontactor including a Hat insulated plate lying adjacent toyand parallelwith the inner face of the terminal head and having an opening thereinto receive the movable contactor with portions thereof fitting closelyand with other portions fitted loosely therein whereby the contactor isfirmly guided but is free to tilt in following the inner face of theterminal head, and spring means to urge the movable contactor toward theterminal head.

9. In an electric switch including an enclosing casing, reciprocableswitch instrumentalities within the casing and an actuating stem forreciprocating the switch instrumentalities, means within the casing toattach the actuating stem to the switch instrumentalities comprising, anut member adapted to have the inner end of the actuating stem threadedtherein, means to rotatably mount said nut member from the switchinstrumentalities in a position to be engaged by the inner end of thestem, ratchet means to restrain rotation of said nut member in adirection enabling the threading of the stem therein, and a springinterposed between the apertured member and a part carried by the switchinstrumentalities, said spring maintaining the ratchet means operativeand applying the normal impelling force of the stem in one direction tothe switch instrumentalities.

10. In an electric switch including an enclosing casing.. reciprocableswitch instrumentalities within the casing and an actuated to have theinner end of the actuating stem threaded therein, means to rotatablymount said nut member from the switch instrumentalities in a position tobe engaged by the inner end of the stem, ratchet means to restrainrotation of said nut member in a direction enabling the threadin of thestem therein, a spring interposed etween the apertured member and a partcarried by the switch instrumentalities, said spring maintaining theratchet means operative and applying the normal impelling force of thestem 1n one direction to the switch instrumentalities, said part of theswitch instrumentalities engaging the casing wall to limit the normalmovement of the switch instrumentalities in said direction, and meansprojected from a casing Wall to have an interlocking engagement with thenut member upon extended movement of said nut 4member with the actuatingstem in said direction against the force of said spring to enableintentional detachment of the stem from the nut member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

EDWARD N. JACOBI.

ing stem for reciprocating the switch instrumentalities. means withinthe casing to attach the actuating stem to the switch instrumentalitlescomprising, a nut member adapt-

